Dr. Elaine Byrne:

The law changed in 2001. Before, anybody could donate, and now an Irish citizen can donate. I do not think there is anything wrong with Irish citizens donating to Irish public life. I wrote about this last week in the Sunday Business Post. It is an issue. I assume the Chairman is referring to Sinn Féin which is enormously funded by organisations outside the State who are not necessarily Irish citizens but donate under the category of friends of Sinn Féin Australia - less so now - or friends of Sinn Féin America. You would ask if that creates a disproportionate influence in political life.